About Me
Kelsey "Doc Freeze" Frazier
Mechanical Engineer, M.S., EIT
Overview
I study sea ice because it impacts us all.
People near the poles have lived around sea ice for thousands of years, and it’s a key feature in their identity and culture. For those in large cities, further away from the ice, it’s a source of temperature regulation impacting food, energy, weather, and more. Me? I study sea ice as it impacts global trade, policy, and engineering.
My name is Kelsey “Doc Freeze” Frazier, and I am a mechanical engineer with a passion for Arctic-focused operational research. This means that I use engineering and data-driven processes to interpret and implement solutions for customers in defense, academia, and the private sector. Practically, this means that I might help develop new navigation software for Arctic transits, or I may work with a team on predicting how climate change impacts critical energy infrastructure. Either way, the goal is to increase safety, reduce risk, and use science to get us there.
Summary
The Arctic is warming roughly 4X faster than the global average. This warming has led to a thinning of Arctic sea ice, which is ushering in a new era for trans-global shipping. While this is an exciting time for commercial investment in the region, it opens up questions around environmental impact, transportation policy, and response scenarios in the event an accident happens.
Sea Ice Research
As part of my Ph.D. work, I’m developing models of the underside roughness of sea ice and interpreting how an Arctic oil spill would interact with this hidden surface. If an oil spill occurred in the Arctic *today,* not one operational model in the U.S. can predict oil slick spreading beneath sea ice. I am to fix that.
Operational Research
My professional work is focused on equipping USCG operators with products that enhance situational awareness and support decision making effectiveness. To this end, I have two projects, ARCTICE and ERI, aimed at increasing the safety of Arctic navigation and promoting rural energy security, respectively. For more, see my “Projects” page.
Mar 2016 – Current | RESEARCH ASSOCIATE | Arctic Domain Awareness Center
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects assigned by ADAC leadership in accordance with annual workplan, from conceptualization to closeout
- Acts as project point of contact for project with sponsor/customer, Federal, state and local government agencies, Congressional interests, other external organizations and higher authorities
- Project co-leader for an applied research program, the Arctic Ice Condition Index (ARCTICE)
- Project advisor and milestone manager for the Arctic Facilities and Infrastructure Environmental Change Risk Index (ERI) project investigating climate change impact to bulk fuel infrastructure in Alaska
- Supports ADAC team by providing professional management and engineering expertise for both current and new projects through proposal review, RFP response, and project milestone management
- Controls and manages project milestones and budgets from planning through project close-out
- Maintains high levels of communication with project stakeholders and champions to ensure all groups are up to date on project accomplishments
2021-Current | University of Alaska Fairbanks
M.S., Mechanical Engineering2018-2020 | University of Alaska Anchorage
B.S., Mechanical Engineering2016-2019 | University of Alaska Anchorage
B.A., Operational Management2004-2006 | Alaska Pacific University
2021-2023 | Oil Spill Recovery Institute | Ph.D. Fellowship
2018-2019 | Arctic Domain Awareness Center | Graduate Fellowship
2016-2019 | BP America Inc. | BP Scholar
2016-2018 | Arctic Domain Awareness Center | Undergraduate Fellowship
May 2019 – Aug 2019 | ENGINEERING INTERN | BP Exploration Alaska
My role as an intern was to engage in hands on learning through managing engineering projects. I cultivated hands-on skills in planning, engineering, construction, design, and deferred maintenance for two facilities on the North Slope, AK (Pt. McIntyre 2 and Flow Station 3). I managed the development of new inspection strategies for facility heat exchangers through a novel approach I developed collaborating by site engineers in Egyptian and Indonesian BP facilities.
May 2018 – Aug 2018 | ENGINEERING INTERN | BP Exploration Alaska
As a first year intern, I engaged in management of engineering-related design issues including assessment and redesign of equipment unable to meet standard operating guidelines. I also submitted proposals for corrective measures with detailed directions to the maintenance team for shipping pumps at Flow Station 3 on the North Slope.
Aug 2008 – Mar 2014 | SR. HEALTHCARE STRATEGIST | DFA Benefits
As a senior healthcare strategist, I was concerned with managing the coordination and accomplishment of the planning, scoping, development, and design of contracts and bids for organizations seeking private health insurance solutions. My role encompased supporting the solicitation of quotes on behalf of clients and the execution of contracts; controlling and managing project milestones and budgets from planning through project close-out; and reviewing, interpreting and implementing the requirements of insurance contract documents including plan specifications and solicitations.